Personality shapes perceptions of adulthood

Adulthood is often inferred from age and the attainment of milestones such as marriage, parenthood, and career. Yet, personality traits are likely associated with whether we feel like adults and how we evaluate adulthood. Here we tested associations between personality and perceptions of adulthood in a UK sample (N = 714, age 18-77 years, MAge = 39.30). Regression analyses indicated that subjective adult status, or feeling like an adult, was predicted by low Neuroticism and high Conscientiousness. Personality independently explained 27% of variance in subjective adult status. Older age and being a parent also significantly predicted subjective adult status. Endorsement of the Markers of Adulthood scale (MoA) subscales had mixed predictors, as the role transitions, independence, and legality markers subscales were predicted by high Neuroticism and low Openness, whereas endorsement of the relative maturity subscale was predicted by high Openness and high Conscientiousness. These results illustrate the presence of individual differences in perceptions of adulthood, and that personality shapes whether we see ourselves as adults, and how we define adulthood. Findings have implications for research on perceptions of adulthood and life outcomes, arguing for the inclusion of personality as a covariate in future studies.